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 Mairin Hoban, an Irish native who currently lives in the United Kingdom after working for a number of years in the United States shared her thoughts on work, multicultural cities, and “her nomadic tendencies” with X-Expats.
Mairin Hoban: I was born and raised in a small town on the West Coast of Ireland and went to New York in the United States with the intention of staying there for one year and ended up staying for 10! I worked in US immigration and I am still working in that field.
I enjoy artistic and cultural activities and I practice Yoga and love to travel.
X-expats: Why were you interested in living and working in a foreign country?
MH: I wanted to travel and to experience a different culture. I also wanted to explore career options as Ireland was in recession and opportunities were very limited.
X-E: How did this experience in the United States affect your views on foreign cultures and practices?
MH: I found the US liberating with a more positive approach to life and to work. At the end of the day, it is the only meritocracy. Europe is still a bit more traditional and is much more class conscious and less open to change.
X-E: Why did you decide to leave the US and move to the UK?
MH: I was presented with an opportunity to work in London and thought it would be nice to live closer to my family. You get more vacation time here and London is a great base for travel. When living in NY, I spent most of my holidays visiting family in Ireland.
X-E: What do you miss about New York and what do you particularly enjoy about London?
MH: After 10 years, I still miss NY. When you live there a long time, you take it for granted and forget that Europe is another continent with a different culture. I miss the convenience of the city – better transport and facilities than London for professionals working late. Here it is very expensive to take a taxi - if you can even find one - and the trains stop running before midnight. I miss the customer service. I also miss the 24 hour city – parts of London are dead after 6:00p.m. And, of course I miss the shopping! In London, I get more vacation and it is a great base for travel. It is a novelty going to Paris on the Eurostar for a long weekend and to other European destinations and experiencing a different culture after a short flight. It is also nice being closer to my family and being able to participate in family gatherings. Here people place more of an emphasis on social life and leisure activities and the city is more relaxed than NY. There is less of the “workaholic” mentality that is endemic in American society.
X-E: You are working for a prominent law firm, Magrath LLP, in your opinion how did the skills and knowledge you acquired abroad benefit your employer and its clients?
MH: I was encouraged to work independently in NY. This was invaluable as I ended up working in a small department without the support network of colleagues experienced in the same field. Having worked in NY, I was more confident and I was able to work autonomously and to make decisions on my own.
X-E: What tips would you give to British expats considering returning to the UK to facilitate their re-assimilation process?
MH: I would advise them to consider their options very carefully and to be prepared for change. People do not have the same expectations here and the standards can, therefore, be lower. I had difficulty finding decent accommodation to rent and it was very expensive. Overall, I find London more expensive than NY with a lower standard of service. Although I am lucky enough to work autonomously, I believe the work culture here is more hierarchical and the opportunities to develop are more limited than in the U.S. There is more of a spirit of teamwork in the US and you are encouraged to develop and to contribute your ideas etc. People are more open to change there. In general, people in London are reserved and it can take time to make friends. I would advise expats to have hobbies and to join clubs etc. I have met most of my friends through my interests - Yoga and cultural activities.
X-E: Should an opportunity present itself, would you consider another expatriation? And if so, to which countries?
MH: If the right opportunity presented itself, I would consider living in NY again. It would be nice to spend a few months of the year there. Yes, I do want the best of both worlds! I visited India two years ago and loved it and would like to spend more time there too but don’t know if it would be feasible for me to work. I am a bit of a Nomad so don’t see myself settling anywhere at this time.
X-E: Thank you Mairin for pointing out differences between these two multicultural cities. Let us know about your next adventure!
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